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Whether your summer travel plans include time on the beach, camping with the kids, hiking with your sweetie, or a long car trip, all of summer’s heat and humidity can leave you feeling… well… yucky. In addition to sweat and grime, you’re dealing with sticky suntan lotion, stinky smoke from your grill, and residue from all of that bug spray you keep having to slather on!
So, how do you take full advantage of your summer holiday and still feel clean and fresh?
By tapping into the power of aromatherapy!
Forget about all of the complicated travel tips. Instead, with the right blend of essential oils, you can feel cool and refreshed — even on the hottest of days! Before you head out on that next summer trip, be sure to follow these 5 tips:

1. Invigorate yourself with mint

Spearmint and Peppermint essential oils both have natural cooling properties, so these essential oils will make you feel fresh and alert.
Whether you’ve just finished a long hike or spent the day in the car, all you have to do is add 5 drops of oil with a bowl of ice water and use a towel to rub it on your skin.
You’ll instantly feel cool, calm, and collected.
And, if you’re planning on being out in the hot sun for a prolonged period, infuse a towel with either of these oils and wrap it around your neck.
All you need to do is get a bowl full of ice water, add 5 drops of oil, and stir. Then, just give your towel a good dunking, wring out the excess water, and you’re good to go!
Combine that mint-infused towel with plenty of fluids to drink, and you’ve got an instant prevention tool against things like heat exhaustion and heat stroke!

2. Clean off with Lavender

If all of that heat and humidity leaves you feeling sticky and gross, you’re not alone.
Luckily, Lavender essential oil can help! It’s got antibacterial properties, so you’ll be able to get rid of any germs you’ve picked up during your summer travels.
You can actually make your own antibacterial wipes with some water, some oil, and a towel.
Just add 5 drops of Lavender to a bowl of ice water, stick your towel in, wring out the excess water, and you can clean off your hands, face, or neck. Plus, you’ll get a nice cool down in the process!
To keep clean on the go, infuse some towels ahead of time, and stick them in a plastic bag. That way, you’ll have an antibacterial wipe anytime you need it!
And unlike those antibacterial gels and wipes you see in the store, lavender actually smells good! It has a clean floral scent, instead of that toxic chemical smell that you get from most other antibacterial products.
No matter how sticky or grimy you feel, lavender will make you feel much better!

3. Get some sunburn relief with a moisturizing blend

A summer sunburn can leave you looking and feeling absolutely awful. Not only is it terrible for the long-term health of your skin, but the pain and discomfort from a sunburn can ruin your entire summer holiday!
Luckily, aromatherapy fans can get some relief with the right blend of essential oils.
Start with 1 ounce of Jojoba Oil. Since it’s a great moisturizer, it will keep your skin from drying out — meaning you won’t have to deal with as much itching and peeling as you normally would with a sunburn.
Then, add 5 drops of cooling Blue Chamomile essential oil, so that your sunburn won’t burn quite as badly. And, finally, top it all off with 10 drops of Lavender.
Since they have anti-inflammatory properties, Lavender and Blue Chamomile can prevent the aches and pains that come with sleeping or even sitting with a bad sunburn.
This blend won’t just make you feel better; it will also make you smell better! Instead of dousing your skin in traditional sunburn remedy creams and sprays — and smelling like a medicine cabinet — this blend can leave you smelling fresh and floral!

4. Use essential oils to tame your tummy

If you’ve accidentally downed some foreign water during your summer travels, drank too much of the spiked punch at your friend’s barbecue, or eaten too many summertime treats, it can leave your stomach feeling downright awful.
Luckily, when you rub essential oils like Cardamom, Ginger, and Fennel essential oils over your stomach, it can help relieve stomach cramps and spasms associated with diarrhea, food poisoning, and other tummy troubles.
Combine 5 drops of each essential oil with 1 oz Carrier Oil and massage your abdomen with circular movements.
Just remember to drink plenty of fluids to prevent your stomach issues from turning into dehydration.
If plain water doesn’t sound good to you, check out my recipe for Ginger-infused iced tea!